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KINGSTON TWP. - Peter Swaboski saw two people on the ice at Frances Slocum State Park as he drove past the Carverton Road boat launch.

A few seconds later, there was only one.

A girl walking on the icy lake at the state park fell through to the water Wednesday afternoon. After Swaboski witnessed the accident, the Dallas resident pulled a U-turn on Carverton Road and drove into the parking lot, where he saw one person in the lake and another still above the ice. He called 911.

In his home on Dug Street, Jason Rose was drinking coffee and watching television when he heard the tone calling emergency personnel to the lake. He headed out the door.

By the time Rose arrived at the scene ahead of emergency workers, a second person was in the water. Witnesses said a man tried to rescue the girl, but fell through the ice in the attempt.

Rose, a 32-year-old lieutenant with the volunteer Trucksville Fire Department, has completed water rescue training, but until yesterday, the extent of his ice rescue experience consisted of watching videos. He pulled on a life jacket and grabbed a long rope before walking 50 yards on the cloudy ice.

"Was it stupid to go out there by myself?" Rose said. "Yes, it was stupid. I could have been a victim along with them. But in my heart, if that girl or gentleman would have drowned and I stood and waited for help, I don't know how I'd react. I took a chance, and it worked in my favor. Everything happened in a good way, but yes, it was stupid."

On the lake, he tossed a victim a rope from about 15 feet away and yelled for her to hold on tight. Searching for footing on the slippery ice, Rose pulled the girl out of the hole, then got the man out of the water.

The ice, Rose said, is unpredictable. To wit: During the rescue attempt, Kingston Township police officer Michael Huntzinger was standing right next to him and fell through. The officer pulled himself out with help from Rose, then the two men dragged the woman across the frozen lake to shore.

Huntzinger said a second girl also fell in the water, but he wasn't sure how she got free from the ice. The two girls went in an ambulance to a hospital, he said, but the man who fell through refused an ambulance. Huntzinger said he also refused an ambulance. He did not know the names of the victims.

A park ranger on shore was putting on his wetsuit while Rose and Huntzinger completed the rescue, so they knew if something went wrong, they had reinforcements.

"The best case scenario presented itself today," he said. "I'm just happy with the way it turned out."

As spring approaches, ice on lakes starts to thaw.

"This is the time of year when we see ice on lakes begin to melt and thin up a bit. Even though it's been cold, we have a higher sun angle that helps to melt snow and ice," said WBRE meteorologist Josh Hodell. "I think we're getting into the time frame where, unless you're absolutely certain of the depth of the ice, I'd stay off it. Temperatures are climbing. Spring is knocking on the door. Unless you're absolutely certain the ice is at least 6 inches thick, I'd probably stay off it."

bwellock@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2051, @CVBillW

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission offers these tips for safety around ice:

> Always let others know exactly where you are going, and when you will return.

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